Etienne Manchon Trio - 2025 - Weird Life

(51:09; Kiwi Production)






















Track list:
1. Regard Noir 3:52
2. Askja 4:13
3. C'est Bientôt Mon Anniversaire 6:46
4. Road Trip 4:17
5. Daldosse Donne Des Ailes 3:47
6. Seshipo 4:19
7. Patou 4:13
8. Annexe 9 Et Demi 5:05
9. Early Flight 3:57
10. Big Up Catherine 6:22
11. Iris 4:18

Line-up:
Etienne Manchon - piano, keyboards
Clément Daldosso - bass
Théo Moutou - drums


French threesome Etienne Manchon Trio have been around since 2017 or thereabouts from what I can see, and have released a good handful of albums over the years. This in addition to the various projects main man Manchon have been involved in and with besides his own trio. Manchon is also a seasoned live performer, with more than 400 live performances under his belt. "Weird Life" is the most recent album under the Etienne Manchon Trio moniker, and was released through French label Kiwi Production at the start of 2025.

 At a surface level, it is an elegant and traditional manner of instrumental jazz we get in this case. We have a bassist and a drummer that manage to balance being a steady support, being expressive instrumentalists in their own right, and also see the opportunities to add those small extra details from their respective instruments to add that little bit extra to the landscapes explored. While the main player, so to speak, is presumed band leader Etienne Manchon, who most certainly has a way with the piano as an instrument. As well as having a fine ear to when the use of keyboards fit in.

The majority of these compositions revolve around the bass, drums and piano, with compositions that ebb and flow between the gentle and elegant and the more expressive yet still elegant. With some sections exploring a tender delicate state, others a theatrical, dramatic and distinctly firm vibe, but always with flow, momentum and melody being the main focus. Occasionally with expressive elements taking over, but never for any elongated span of time. And one does get the impression that Manchon is a musician that knows his way around classical music just as much as jazz, and that the elegant mannerisms on display may well be due to this.

On some of the compositions, the threesome does expand their repertoire a bit though. Again with Manchon as the provider, and in these cases with keyboards of various kinds used to deliver an additional element to the landscapes explored. These being either gentler or more expressive textures that add a bit of an otherworldly and cosmic mood to the landscapes explored. With my own associations going towards the likes of Vangelis, Kitaro and Isao Tomita in terms of how these additional sounds and textures come across.  

This is a solid album by a seasoned band, and those who enjoy elegant instrumental jazz with the piano as the lead instrument and elegant landscapes that possibly may have an influx of classical music tendencies should find this production to be a rather enjoyable one. Especially if you also find the notion of occasional cosmic sounds and atmospheres being a sometime presence in such creations.

Olav M. Björnsen, January 2025

Links:
https://www.etiennemanchon.fr/
https://kiwi-production.fr/

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